Twenty-one people were still trapped under landslide debris that was triggered as result of heavy rain and flood in Othor Nala in of Kohistan.
Deputy Commissioner Kohistan Raja Fazal Khalid said that 21 people trapped under debris were yet to be recovered. He said that Karakorum Highway (KKH) remained closed for all types of traffic. “Stranded passengers and truck drivers are facing severe problems due to shortage of food and cash,” he said.
He said that efforts were under way to restore traffic on KKH by clearing landslide at various places with the help of Frontier Works Organization and local administration. Stranded passengers have demanded to lift and evacuate through army helicopters.
KP govt declares Shangla, Kohistan as calamity-hit areas: speaker
Meanwhile, the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has declared severely rain affected Shangla, Besham and Kohistan as calamity-hit areas.
This was announced by speaker, KP Assembly, Asad Qaiser during his visit to the areas of Shangla, Besham, Dasu and Patan. Besides, Special Assistant to KP CM Abdul Haq, Abdul Monim Khan, MPAs Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, Reshad Khan, Zar Gul Khan and Malik Aurangzeb prominent notables also accompanied the Speaker during the visit.
The speaker took an aerial view of different affected areas and reviewed the losses.
Addressing the rain-affectees of Shangla, Besham and Dasu, he is representing the Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and visiting affected areas to express sympathies with them.
He directed the local administration for utilization of all available resources for the removal of the debris of land-sliding and restoration of water supply schemes. He said that the provision of funds is no issue and all required funds will be provided without any delay.
He said that they should face all natural calamities as nation. He said that all political parties should join hands to prepare a joint strategy and show unity in this critical juncture.
He on behalf of the Chief Minister Pervez Khattak also announced the establishment of University Campus in Shangla and advised them to give preference to the campus of technical university while keeping in view the needs of the modern era.
